Washington art festival offers visitors outlet for 'expression'

Patrons, not artists, will be the stars of an art festival Saturday hosted by McKenzie River Pottery.

Folks attending the "Community Art Festival" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. can glaze a pre-made ceramic vessel for $10, watch it get fired using the Raku or horse-hair method, and take it home.

Steve Stein

Patrons, not artists, will be the stars of an art festival Saturday hosted by McKenzie River Pottery.

Folks attending the "Community Art Festival" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. can glaze a pre-made ceramic vessel for $10, watch it get fired using the Raku or horse-hair method, and take it home.

McKenzie River Pottery gallery manager Blair Jeffers, who is hosting the event along with studio manager Benjamin Watkins and other area artists, said she hopes the glazing experience will ignite or re-ignite patrons' creativity.

"For many people, it seems when they reach a certain age, they lose their confidence to make things," she said. "But the definition of art is expression. There's no right or wrong way to do something."

Making art has another benefit, Jeffers said.

"How can you be upset with the world when you're being creative?" she said.

The first 50 adult patrons will receive a ceramic bowl created by McKenzie River Pottery artists, and artists will display and sell their work.

Festival activities, food and a Kid's Clay Corner hosted by Wheel Art Pottery Studio in Peoria will be in the parking lot at McKenzie River Pottery, 308 N. Main St. The gallery and studio inside will be open.

There's no charge for children to work in the Clay Corner.

Jeffers said she hopes the festival will raise awareness about McKenzie River Pottery, which has been open since the mid-1990s.

"I don't think a lot of people have heard of us," she said. "Maybe it's because we're a couple of blocks off the downtown square. I hope the festival gets our name out there."

Steve Stein can be reached at 686-3114 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Read his Stein Time blog at pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.

Community Art Festival

What: Patrons can glaze a pre-made ceramic vessel for $10, watch it get fired, and take it home; also potter’s wheel demonstrations, Kid’s Clay Corner, food, art for sale, and a ceramic bowl giveaway to the first 50 adult patrons.
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (rain date May 11.)
Where: McKenzie River Pottery, 308 N. Main St., Washington.
Admission: Free
Information: 444-3573 or www.McKenzieRiverPottery.com.

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